X No Sekai

o5; Dark Woods Mystery

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It was when Oz finally regained his senses. He rubbed his eyes, unable to believe that the 1st ALICE was actually talking to the 3rd ALICE. Or what it seems some “talking gestures”. He glanced as he heard a twig break as the 2nd ALICE stepped beside and followed his gaze. “Is the 1st ALICE…really talking to the real 3rd ALICE?” Oz said, his voice quivering in shock, amazement and even a little bit hopeful.

The 2nd ALICE nodded. Just then, the 3rd ALICE looked at Oz from head to toe. Then he looked back at the 1st ALICE. The 1st ALICE just nodded. Then, without waiting for more, the 3rd ALICE stretched out his hand and opened his palm at Oz, as if gesturing him to come with him.

Oz just stared, unable to move. He wasn’t sure if he’d follow the ALICEs or to stay away from trouble. But then the 2nd ALICE pushed him. So the 3rd ALICE quickly grabbed his wrist in a very alarming and painful way, Oz let out a short and loud scream. Pulling him, Oz as well as the ALICEs was still speechless and emotionless to where they were going. The 1st ALICE stretched out her hand to pull away the hanging wilted moss and Oz gasped to the new world.

It wasn’t much of a “new” world at all. In fact, it was another forest full of darker, scarier and meaner-looking background. The sky was now almost-luminous darkest blue, and not jet black, like the normal sky of the Xland. At least better, Oz thought. And there was not a single cloud or even stars, moon or sun! The trees were taller than Oz expected. At least 10 feet tall, to what he thought and almost hovering at them. As if greeting them a welcome to the new world or even worse, even telling them what they were doing in the new world. The path was twisted and crooked much of Oz’s surprise. And he can see in the distance, a small-black hole in the middle that seems to be taunting them to come closer.

“Where are we?” Oz asked, eyeing the new world.

The 3rd ALICE still had a tight grip on Oz’s wrist, but he seemed to be too numb to feel it. A swirl of wind answered Oz’s question. There, in front of them, stood the man they knew earlier. Death Slayer. Along with his hideous-tarot creature that still cackles with its bone jaw. Oz took a step back. “You’re…back again.”

He smiled knowingly. And slyly, as if he’d been watching them. Then, much to Oz’s surprise, he talked. As the words flowed out to his mouth, “I have been watching over you.”

“Me? Why?”

“These ALICEs are…” Before he could finish his sentence, the Death Slayer’s shadow was being grabbed by the 3rd ALICE. He smiled wider and menacingly. The 3rd ALICE was still emotionless staring at the Death Slayer, but his hand was still holding the edge of the Death Slayer’s shadow, as if he was controlling him to stay put. “I guess they don’t want you to know about them deeper yet.”

Oz was now starting to feel uncomfortable. “Wait, hold on. What do you mean?”

“What I mean is…” A flash of lightning struck in front of them. Oz glanced at the 2nd ALICE, which had his hand in front of him, palm wide-open. They were still emotionless, but Oz knew they must be angry.

The 1st ALICE put a grip around Oz’s neck, seemingly signaling him to shut up and ask no more questions. He stood frozen, unable to move. He definitely doesn’t want to be killed to death within the loose ALICEs now. And the Death Slayer’s sayings have been ticking inside his head.

“But I will wait for the right time to tell you.” The Death Slayer’s words poured out of his mouth, making Oz remember it to the very end of his life. Then like a mist, he disappeared, along with his laughing tarot card. Only the cackling of the jaw bones echoed eerily among the creepy silence of the woods.

The rest of the ALICEs became restless now, and had been walking rapidly and stops abruptly if something moved. Whatever what was bothering them, Oz guessed it might be because of the Death Slayer’s words. I didn’t know the ALICEs have feelings too, he wondered. I wonder if they’re human inside them…

Oz’s trail of thought was cut off when the ALICEs were looking at something. He followed their gaze and saw a very tall sign, with a broken and bent wooden stick. Almost half of the moss was covering the sign. And the letters were crooked, but strangely clear enough for Oz to read aloud, announcing a wake: “Dark Woods.”

At the sound of it, the 2nd ALICE jerked his head up high, his mouth slightly open and his eyes popped open. He reacted as if he was so shocked. Whatever that place is, it made the ALICEs even more restless. Oz was starting to get panicked. “What’s wrong with this place?”

Like an answer, Oz felt the ground shook underneath. They held on their places, certain not to fall. Then they glanced straight ahead and saw themselves having their heads glancing high up. For a very eerie and very tall – seems like already 30 feet tall – a shadow-like creature towering above them. Even the ALICEs had their mouth open in shocked and even in awe. As the shadow-like creature opened its yellow and luminous eyes, it opened its mouth as well – showing off several sharp fangs. It looks as if it was ready to devour them all.

Quickly, the 1st ALICE grabbed Oz’s wrist tightly for a take-off. Then the ALICEs, tagging Oz along, they felt like they were almost flying again on top of the pathway. They were running – or even dashing – so fast, that Oz saw colors pass by.

Just then, Oz saw a girl with a green hair. She seemed to be wearing a purple and black acrobat suit and she was holding a rose-umbrella that is purple and black as well. She had a black eye patch covering her left eye. But whatever she looks like, Oz thought he saw something glistened at the “acrobat” girl’s pretty blue eyes. As they dashed faster, Oz felt his movement became somewhat, slow motion, that he kept looking at the strange girl who was standing in the side of the pathway.

He reached out his hand, as if inviting the girl. The Acrobat girl opened her mouth but still, she reached out her hand as well. Like a snap, Oz knew what the girl meant. “Wait…I’ll save you…” Oz’s muffled voice sounded through the quick dash.

Just as they were near the end, Oz kept watching the girl. She seemed to be running but then, something big and shadow-like caught her arm. Then with a force, she was turned around. Oz followed her gaze and gaped her mouth open. It was the shadow-like creature who was 7 feet tall.

Then he looked back at the girl. But with no luck, the ALICEs have already dragged him completely out of the woods and back to the “normal” Xland. Oz almost fell when the 1st ALICE let him go. Then he glanced back at the end of the woods. He could hear the shadow-like creature laughing eerily as it echoes back and forth. Everything was silent. But not too long.

“Save me!!!”

The voice screamed killing and tearing the silence apart. The ALICEs followed Oz’s gaze, as if they were just startled by the sudden scream. Oz opened his mouth and dropped on his knees. “She’s…” he started but couldn’t finish. As he was choked by frightened, shocked and pitying the Acrobat girl he’d just met. “She’s……not saved…” he finally choked out.

The 2nd ALICE put an arm around Oz’s shoulder, as if sympathetically comforting him. As well as the 3rd ALICE, who kneeled near him and keeps looking at him. The 1st ALICE stood up, still glaring at the woods. Then she helped Oz stand up on his own feet. When they were ready to leave, Oz picked a wild white rose in the pathway and placed it at the exit.

When they were away, the rose turned purple – which was rare, and as a cold breeze passed by, turned into a wilted rose magically. The sign on the entrance creaked, leaving it enough for lost passerby to read the words to be warned. There was a word that added after the un-warming welcome.

Dark Woods Mystery

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